Embroidery holders such as lap and floor holders with clamps therefor



March 21, 1967 E. M. 5. WILSON 3,399,303

EMBROIDERY HOLDERS SUCH AS LAP AND FLOOR HOLDERS WITH CLAMPS THEREFOR Filed April 30, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet l K INVENTOR. Z4 z-W/m m J. w/zson/ arch 21, 1967 E, M s. wlLSON EMBROIDERY HOLDERS SUCH AS LAP AND FLOOR HOLDERS WITH CLAMPS THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1964 mm 2 J 5n f H N l 5 n HillIHilHl March 21, 1967 E M. 5. WILSON 3,3G9,803

EMBROIDERY HO LDERS SUCH AS LAP AND FLOOR HOLDERS WITH CLAMPS THEREFOR Filed April 50, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Ham/5).

United States Patent 3,309,803 EMBROIDERY HOLDERS SUCH AS LAP AND FLOOR HOLDERS WITH CLAMPS THEREFUR Erica M. S. Wilson, 1225 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. 10028 Filed Apr. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 363,867 9 Claims. (Cl. 38-1022) This invention relates to embroidery holders such as lap and floor holders with clamps for holding embroidery and crewel work.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved holder of the character described including a tiltable emhroidery cloth clamp and means to support the clamp in a comfortable position for use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a holder of the character described having means to limit the degree of tilting of the clamp.

Still another object of this invention is to provide, in a holder of the character described, means to permit adjusting the height of the cloth clamp.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a holder of the character described which may be supported on a persons lap and which is provided with a tiltable cloth clamp.

A further object of this invention is to provide a holder of the character described in which the cloth clamp may be tilted in opposite direction.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved lap holder of the character described in which the cloth clamp is both tiltable and adjustable for height.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a holder of the character described in which the cloth clamp is supported at a single point leaving the clamp unencumbered so that the hands of the operator are free to move about beneath the clamp in all directions, and in which the clamp is adjustable for height, and for rearward and forward movement with respect to the point of support on the base.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged, durable, yet light holder of the character described which shall be easy to manipulate, comfortable to use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embroidery holder embodying the invention with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 2 is side elevational view of the holder of FIG. 1 with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional viewtaken on line 33 of FIG 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a holder embodying the invention and illustrating a modified construction;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 4, with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial side view of a holder embodying the invention and illustrating a further modification;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 8% of FIG. 7;

Patented Mar. 21, 1967 ice FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a holder embodying the invention and illustrating a further modified construction; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 9, with parts broken away and in crosssection.

Referring now in detail to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing, 10 designates a holder embodying the invention. Holder 10 is a lap holder to be supported on the operators or workers lap.

Said holder 10 comprises a base 11 which is preferably transversely larger than its width from front to rear. Thus, said base has front and rear parallel transverse edges 13, 14 merging with side semi-circular edges 15. Said base may be made of wood. A pad 16 or undercover of soft material may be adhered to its underside.

Said base is formed with a pair of countersunk holes 17 located on a line parallel to and equally spaced between parallel edges 13 and 14 and equally spaced inwardly of the respective semi-circular sides 15 of said base. The distance between openings 17 is greater than the distance which separates edges 13 and 14. Said base is formed with through openings 18 centralized in openings 17 and having conical portions 19 at their lower ends.

Mounted on the base 11 are a pair of vertical posts or supports 20. Each has at its lower end, a reduced portion 21 projecting down into one of the countersunk openings 17, and a lower shoulder 22 contacting the top of the base 11. A screw 24 has a conical head 25 in conical portion 19 of the through hole 18, and a shank 26 screwed up into portion 21 and into the lower end of post 20.

Each post 20 has at its upper end a head 30 formed at its outer side with a fiat vertical surface 31. Each post 20 is further provided at its outer side and below said flat surface 31, with a pair of upwardly and inwardly inclined upwardly facing shoulders 32. Flat surface 31 extends down to said inclined shoulders 32.

Each head 3% is formed with a horizontal through opening 35 located in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the base 11.

Press fitted or otherwise securely fixed into said openings 35 are horizontal tubular bushings 36.

Mounted on the upper ends of said posts 20 in the manner hereinafter appearing, is a cloth clamp 40 to hold a portion of a piece of cloth taut facilitating the working of embroidery onto that portion of the cloth.

Clamp 40 comprises an inner cylindrical ring 41 which may be made of wood or other suitable material and which has upper and lower edges 42 in parallel planes. The inner diameter of said inner clamp ring 41 is greater than the distance between the fiat surfaces 31 between post heads 30. Attached to diametrically opposed portions on inner ring 41 are similar blocks 43 having outer curved surfaces 44 similar to the curvature of the inner surface of ring 41 and contacting this surface. The attachment may be by means of headless nails 45, or by gluing, or by any other suitable means. The height of each block 43 is the same as the width of ring 41 (which may be about one inch). The length of each block is several inches, and greater than the width of surface 31. Block 43 is formed with a horizontal through hole 46. The distance between the inner flat, straight surfaces 47 of blocks 43 is equal to the distance between fiat surfaces 31. Said faces 47 contact surfaces 31 and extend to opposite sides thereof. Ring 41 is formed with openings 48 registering with and of somewhat larger diameter than through opening 46.

Bolts 55 serve to tiltably attach ring 41 to the posts 20. Registering holes 46 and 48 are aligned with bushings 36. Head 51 of each bolt 50 is positioned within opening 48 in ring 41. The threaded end 52 of each bolt 58 extends inwardly beyond head 31 and is fitted with washer 53 and Wing nut 54. Tightening of wing nut 54 will clamp surface 47 of block 43 against fiat surface 31 of head 30, securing the ring 41 in angularly adjusted position. The limits of the degree of tilt of ring 41 is controlled by the engagement of bottom fiat surface 55 on block 43 with either inclined shoulder 32 on head 30. The dot-dash line positions of clamp 40 in FIG. 2 illustrate the limits of tilt. Of course, by selectively securing wing nuts 54, the ring 41 can be maintained in any position between said limits as defined by shoulders 32.

Telescoped on ring 41 is an outer clamping ring 57, having parallel upper and lower edges'58 lying in common horizontal planes with the respective upper and lower edges 42 of ring 41. Ring 57 is a split ring, being split at 58, thereby defining facing vertical edges 59. A tightening clamp generally indicated at 68 serves to draw edges 59 together to clamp ring 57 on ring 41. Clamp 60 comprises two similar blocks 61 of a height which may be substantially equal to the height of ring 57. Each block 61 includes a vertical surface 62 each of which is in a common plane with each of edges 59 of ring 57. Blocks 61 are secured to ring 57 with headless nails 45, or by gluing or by other suitable means. Blocks 61 have a horizontal aligned through opening 63. A bolt 64 passes therethrough. Bolt 64 may be fitted with a washer 64a and wing nut 65 at the outer end of one of the blocks.

The operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 is as follows:

With the base 11 held on the lap, the operator loosens wing nut 65 thereby enabling the removal of ring 57 from ring 41. The portion of the cloth to be embroidered is pulled over ring 41. Ring 57 is made of a relatively thin, flexible material, for example, wood, can then be opened somewhat and slipped over the cloth and ring 41. Wing nut 65 is then retightened. Wing nuts 54 are then loosened, the clamp 40 tilted to some position comfortable for the operator and wing nuts 54 secured.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a designates a holder embodying a modified form of the invention. Holder 10a comprises a base 70 which is preferably of elliptical shape. A single upright support 71 extends up from said base 70, and is located close to the periphery of said base on the minor axis of said elliptical shape. Support 71 may be secured to base 70 similar to the securing of post to base 11, by means of a screw 260, or by any other suitable means. Support 71 may be of uniform round crosssection, and has a central blind hole 72 therein, extending for substantially the full length of said support. A transverse hole 73 in tube 71 communicating with hole 72 has an internally threaded bushing 74 fixed therein, in which set screw 75 is threadedly engaged for reasons to be hereinafter described. A pad 76 or undercover of soft material may be adhered to the underside of base 70.

Mounted on member 71 is a clamp unit generally designated 110. Unit 110 comprises a member 110a having a lower shank portion 111, which is adapted to slide and be adjustably secured in the blind hole 72 of support 71. Extending upwardly from shank 111 is an enlarged portion 112 formed with a longitudinal slot 113 providing opposed portions 112a. Transverse, aligned holes 114 extend through portions 112a perpendicular to the plane of said slot 113 and to the axis of the shank portion 111. A tapered or stepped portion 115 interconnects enlarged portion 112 and shank portion 111. A short link 117 has a tongue 116 fitted within slot 13. Tongue 116 has a through hole 118 in registry with through holes 114 in portions 112a. A screw 119 passing through aligned holes 114, and 118 has a. wing nut 120 and washer 121 fitted on the end thereof, whereby the axis of short link 117 can be secured at any desired angular relationship to the axis of shank portion 111 within the plane of tongue 116 and slot 113, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 5. Short link 117 further consists of a head portion which is similar to head portion 30 of FIG. 3. Primed reference numerals in FIGS. 4 and 5 indicate analogous parts indicated by unprimed reference numerals in FIGS. 1 to 3. However, it can be seen that the inclinde shoulders 32 of FIG. 2 do not have analogous elements in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5. In this embodiment, the bottom flat surface 56 of the block 43 rests on a flat shoulder 32a formed in head 30, whereby the clamp 40 is angularly fixed with relation to the axis of screw 52. As is obvious, inclined shoulders 32 could be substituted for flat surface 32a if desired.

Comparing FIGS. 1 and 4, it can be seen that clamp 40 of FIG. 4 is identical to clamp 40 of FIG. 1, but for the presence of two blocks 43 in FIG. 1 connecting inner ring 41 to posts 20 as opposed to one block 43" connecting inner ring 41 to short link 117. Block 43' includes lower surface 56', which, in cooperation with shoulders 32a, allows clamp 40 to rotate about the axis of screw 52.

Outer ring 57' fitted with clamp is identical in structure and operation to the corresponding parts of FIG. 1 and are as described above.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 there is shown a holder 10b. Holder 19b is a floor stand holder. Said holder 10!) embodying another modified form of the invention comprises a base 89, which comprises elongated members 81, 82. As shown in FIG. 7, member 81 has a portion of reduced thickness 83 located at the underside of the middle of said member and on the longitudinal axis thereof. Reduced portion 83 is defined by slot 84 which has a height approximately equal to one-half the thickness of similar members 81 and 82 and which has a length approximately equal to similar members 81 and 82. Slot 84 extends upwardly from the lower surface of member 81 whereby reduced thickness portion 83 provides a continuous top surface for 81.

As shown in FIG. 8, member 82, similar to member 81, is provided with a reduced thickness portion 85, defined by a top slot 86. The dimensions of slot 84 and slot 86 are equal. Slot 86 extends downwardly from the upper surface of member 82.

Reduced portions 83 and 85 are provided with vertical registering through holes 87 and 88 respectively.

To assemble the base of stand 1%, the members 81, 82 are put in right angle relation to each other with reduced portion 83 of member 81 nesting within slot 86 of member 82 as reduced portion of member 82 nests within slot 84 of member 81, and with through holes 87, 88 in alignment, whereby the intersection of members 81, 82 is of a thickness equal to the thickness of either member 81, 82. At the outer extremities of 81, 82 depending downwardly therefrom, are feet portions 89, upon which the stand 10b rests.

Stand 10b further comprises a single upright support extending upwardly therefrom. At its lower end support 90 is provided with a screw 91 having an upper end 92 which may be splined and press fitted into a hole 93 in support 90, or secured thereto by any other suitable means. Threaded portion of screw 90 extends downwardly from splined portion 92 and through and beyond aligned holes 87, 88 of members 81, 82. The lower end 95 of screw 98 extends below the lower surface of member 82, but stops short of the lower surface of feet portions 89. A wing nut 96 and washer 97 are fitted on the end of threaded portion 94 to secure members 81, 82 and support 90 into firmly fixed relationship. The upper portion 98 of support 90 is similar to support 71 of the construction of FIG. 5 and therefore has a blind hole 100 therein, a transverse hole 101 fitted with a bushing 102 carrying a set screw 103. The clamp unit of FIG. 5 may be fitted into hole 100.

Wing nut 96 and washer 97 may be removed and the members 81, 82 and support 90 may therefore be readily assembled or disassembled and very easily stored or shipped when not assembled. The shank or body of support 90 may be of varying thickness in steps from bottom to top, or cylindrical, or of any shape having suflicient strength.

Referring nOW to FIGS. 9 and 10, c designates a holder embodying a still further modified form of the invention. Holder 10c comprises a base 120 which is preferably of rectangular shape. Secured to base 120, adjacent and substantially at the mid-point of one of the longer sides thereof, is a clevis 121. The clevis 121 has a reduced lower end portion 122 projecting down into a counterbored opening 123 in the base 120. A screw 125 has its conical head portion in the countersunk hole 126 which, together with counterbore 123 forms a through hole in base 120. The threaded portion of screw 125 is screwed up into clevis 121, securing it to the base 120.

Clevis 121 mounts a rod 127. Rod 127 comprises a lower tongue 128 fitted into clevis 121, a shank 129, and an upper clevis 121A similar to clevis 121. Clevis 121A mounts a rod 130. Rod 130 comprises a tongue 1280 similar to tongue 128 fitted into clevis 121A, a shank 131, and a head portion. Each tongue 128, 128A is adjustably secured into its respective clevis 121, 121A by a bolt and wing nut assembly 132, 132A similar to the construction of FIG. 6. The head portion of rod 130 and the cloth clamp mounted thereon is identical to the head and clamp of FIGS. 4 and 5, and, therefore, the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals.

Thus there is provided holders and clamps for embroidery and crewel work fulfilling the objects of the invention. FIG. 1 provides a lap holder in which the cloth clamp may be angularly adjusted between two limiting positions about a line parallel to and spaced from the base of the device.

In this as well as in all the embodiments of the invention the advantage of allowing the operator to have both hands free and to provide a free and unobstructed work space beneath the cloth in the cloth clamp is provided.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a table holder 10a which may cooperate with the clamp unit 110. The table holder 10a is extremely simple in construction and readily adapted to be economically manufactured from a small number of parts which may be inexpensively manufactured.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a floor holder 1% which may cooperate with the clamp unit 110. Floor holder 1% similarly is adapted to be advantageously manufactured, can be readily assembled and disassembled, and despite being a relatively large unit is easily stored.

Clamp unit 110 which may be used with either table holder 10a or floor holder 10b allows a good deal of freedom of movement to the cloth clamp 40, since the shank portion 0 fclamp unit 110 may rotate in the respective blind hole, and the short link may tilt towards and away from the operator by virtue of the tongue and clevis connection.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another holder 100 which fulfills all the above objects of the invention and further permits a so-called universal movement to the cloth clamp, as is shown for example by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 10.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is to be defined only as limited by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

All the frames herein may be made of plastic or similar material.

I claim:

1. A cloth holder comprising in combination a base, a first member, means to rigidly attach said first member to said base, with said first member extending upwardly from said base, a second member having a vertical adjustable connection with said first member, means to retain said first and second members in vertically adjusted position, a third member, means to connect said third member to said second member for rotary adjustment about a horizontal axis, including means to adjust the friction between said second and third members to retard such adjustment, an inner ring, means to attach said inner ring to said third member, said third member constituting the only means for supporting said inner ring, cooperating means on said inner ring and third member to prevent rotation of said inner ring relative to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said third member, an outer split ring fitted on said inner ring, and screw threaded means interconnecting the split ends of said outer ring, to tighten said outer ring on said inner ring.

2. The combination of claim 1, said connection between said first and second members comprising means for rotary adjustment between said first and second members, and said means to retain said first and second members in vertically adjusted position, comprising means to retain said first and second members in rotary adjusted position.

3. The combination of claim 2, said first member having a vertical round hole formed therein, said second member having a stem slidable and rotatable in said hole, and said retaining means comprising a screw on said first member adapted to abut said stem.

4. The combination of claim 3, said means to connect said third member to said second member for rotary adjustment comprising spaced portions on said second member forming a flat vertical slot therebetween, said third member having a tongue received in said slot, said spaced portions and tongue being formed with registering openings and screw threaded means passing through said openings to tighten said spaced portions against said tongue.

5. The combination of claim 4, said means to attach said inner ring to said third member comprising a screw, an opening formed in said inner ring, an opening formed in said third member, said screw passing through said openings and a nut on said screw to tighten said last mentioned screw.

6. The combination of claim 5, said prevent means comprising a shoulder formed on said third member and means on said inner ring contacting said shoulder.

7. The combination of claim 1, said base comprising a flat board having a .greater dimension from side to side than from rear to front, and said first member being located nearer the rear than the front of the base, and substantially midway between the sides of the base.

'8. The combination of claim 3, said base having a greater dimension from side to side than from rear to front and said first member being attached nearer the rear of the base than the front of the base.

9. The combination of claim 6, said base comprising a flat board having rear, side and front edges, and being of greater dimension from side to side than from rear to front, and said first member being fixed to said base at a point nearer the rear than the front of the base and substantially equal between the sides of the base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 396,073 1/1889 Cory 38-1022 406,119 7/ 1889 White 38-1022 437,240 9/1890 Pr-ZeWdZink 38102.2

719,574 2/ 1903 Fergusson 21133 1,124,714 1/1915 Denning 21133 1,231,635 7/1917 Nelson 22366 X 1,260,201 3/ 1918 Johnston 21137 1,951,246 3/ 1934 Kirkpatrick 38----102.2

FOREIGN PATENTS 594,146 3/ 1934 Germany. 412,998 3/ 1946 Italy.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CLOTH HOLDER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A BASE, A FIRST MEMBER, MEANS TO RIGIDLY ATTACH SAID FIRST MEMBER TO SAID BASE, WITH SAID FIRST MEMBER EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE, A SECOND MEMBER HAVING A VERTICAL ADJUSTABLE CONNECTION WITH SAID FIRST MEMBER, MEANS TO RETAIN SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS IN VERTICALLY ADJUSTED POSITION, A THIRD MEMBER, MEANS TO CONNECT SAID THIRD MEMBER TO SAID SECOND MEMBER FOR ROTARY ADJUSTMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, INCLUDING MEANS TO ADJUST THE FRICTION BETWEEN SAID SECOND AND THIRD MEMBERS TO RETARD SUCH ADJUSTMENT, AN INNER RING, MEANS TO ATTACH SAID INNER RING TO SAID THIRD MEMBER, SAID THIRD MEMBER CONSTITUTING THE ONLY MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID INNER RING. COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID INNER RING AND THIRD MEMBER TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID INNER RING RELATIVE TO AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID THIRD MEMBER, AN OUTER SPLIT RING FITTED ON SAID INNER RING, AND SCREW THREADED MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE SPLIT ENDS OF SAID OUTER RING, TO TIGHTEN SAID OUTER RING ON SAID INNER RING. 